$2 million project putting metal sheets as below-ground shield

8:11 PM,
Dec. 17, 2012

Track of heavy earth movers pile sand high on the west side of the new Indian River Inlet bridge.

Written by

Molly Murray
and Jeff Montgomery

Prep work has started for a project costing as much as $2 million to protect the northside road to the Indian River Inlet so damage similar to that of Superstorm Sandy doesn't occur again.

The plan: to armor the area just north of the bridge with vibrating rows of steel sheeting embedded deep into the sand along the existing north bound lane of Route 1. The work is expected to protect the road just north of the new $150 million bridge, state transportation officials said.

The sheeting won't be visible once the work is complete and it won't keep sand and waves from washing over the road during severe ...